Fluid or safety gas brake for automobiles



May 19,1925.

' I. D. .LENGEL FLUID OR SAFETY GAS BRAKE FOR AUTOMOBILES 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Deb. 19, 1922 May 19, I925. 1,538,193 I '1. D. LENGEL my GAS BRAKE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 19, 1922' FLUID OR SAF 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 19, 1925. I 1,538,193

v I. D. LEN GEL.

mum on SAFETY (ms BRAKE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 19; 1922 s Sheets-Shee t 5 V unw Patented May 19, 1925.

attain attics...

KEVIN D. LENGZEL, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY B'JSNE As fl l- MLNTS, TO SAFETY AIR BRAKE COMPANY, A CQRPORATIUN OF DELAWARE.

FLUID OR SAFETY GAS BRAKE FOR AUIOMOBILEF.

I Application filed December 19, 1922. Serial No. 607,770.

To all whom. it may com/mm.

Be it known that I, lnvm D. Lancet. a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid 0r Safety Gas Brakes tor Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic brake mechanism, particularly adapted for motor vehicles such as automobiles, the object of the invention being to provide improved safety brake operating mechanism having connection with the motor or cngine in such manner that a part of the burnt mixture brake opcratim, mechanism under the con-Q trol of the opcrator. which may be applied to a motor car without disturbing the or dinary hand and brake pedal mcchanisms whcrcln the latter may still be uscd if dcsircd in the usual way. while this improved brake m chanism may be thrown into operation. by the mere operation oi a valve to exert a powerful braking cll'cct. vcry much gwwitcr than can be obtained by tho ordinary foot or hand brakc, and in which an equalized prcssure on both brakcs of the whccls is cll'cctivcly obta ncd wbcrcby both are applied simultancously and with the same amount of prcssurc. thcrcby matcrially preventing: the skidding oi the car. and which cqualization ol' prcssurc'is not usually obtaincd with tho ordinary hand and foot brakes.

in the drawings accompanying and form ing a part of this specification Fig. lis a plan diagrammatic view of this improved hrakc operating mechanism shown attached to thc chassis ot a car: FlQ."2 is a detail 'ricw ol' onc of tho brakc' piston cylinders shown attached to thcordinary brake mechanism of a car: Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the carbon arrcstcr: Fig. 4 is a top view thcrcof: Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line of Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 a perspective view of the valve operating means and gauge shown attached to the steering post or column of the car; and Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 7 of Fig. 1 through one side of the chassis showing'the manner in which the brake cylinder piston is attached. 7

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several view licfore cxp'laining in detail the present improvement and mode oi operation thereof l desire to havc it understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and that the phrase ology which I employ is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

in the preferred form thereof shown this improved satcty brake operating nricchanisu'i comprises a reservoir or storage tank 2 suitably supported by the chassis ot the car. Leading therefrom is a pipe line 3 having at one part thcrcoi a satcty valve 4 and at anothcr part thereof a check valve 5. This pipc linc loads to onc as the lower end of the carbon arrcster and tooling means 6 hereinafter described. the opposite end of which is connected by a short pipe line 7 with one of the cylinders of the engine whereby upon each explosion of the gas in thc cnginc cylindcr. a small part of the burnt mixture is forced into the storage tank and thcrc hcld uudcr prcssurc until suitably relcascd to operate the brakes. The check valve 5 prevents its return through the pipe 3. A suitable pressure gauge 8 shown. mounted upon the stccring column or post- 8 is conucctcd by a pipe line 5) with the reservoir tank to indicate the pressure in the tank. Connected with a suitable coupling in the pipe line 3 is a three-way control valve and casing l0 suitably shown mounted upon the steering wheel column. This valve is controlled by a suitable handle 40 and a connecting rod 41. In the present instance the valve handle, gauge and valve and its casing are all connected to the steering post h a pair of suitable brackets 4-2 and 43 in such manner that the gauge and valve han- (ilo will be just under the steering wheel and so readily accessible to the operator. Connected with this three wey valve is a euitexhaust pipe 11, through which the wllEll passes to effect the release of the Also connected with the three-Way relive is a pipe 12 connected by a suitable co 13 with a cross pipe 14. leading to a h are of piston cylinders 15, one at each side of the chassis. Each is suitably connected to the chassis of the vehicle .as at 16 and provided with a suitable piston. v H The chassis is irovided with a depending. bracket 17 to which is pivotally connected a lever 18 connected. with the piston inthe cylinder and with a spring 18 fastened to .a depending lug on the cylinder and to this le 8 :1 connecting: rod 19 is pivoted, the

'vll' pposite end of which is pivotally connected .he sual arm 20 of one oi the brakes, as 1.02 instance the foot pedal brake thus forming a compoui'ul lever mechanisi'n. It is to this arm 20 that the usual brake rod oi one. of the ordinary brake mechanisms as the toot pedal lfflfili mechanism is attached. This attachment usually effected by means of a pin extending through the end of the m'dinary connecting rod and the outer end of the brake arm in attaching the sent brake mechanism this pin is removed the connecting rod 19, which is provided th a bent end 21 for the purpose takes 1 place and thcret'r'ire passes through both the connecting rod and the end of: the arm 20 and is suitably secured by a cotter pin. Thus the rod 19 serves as a means of connecting the ordinary brake rod 22 to the ,3 m 20 so that the arm 20 can be operated ier by the foot pedal or by this improved inp; mechanism.

'll. be observed that when the gas or on. the reservoir tank is permitted to nto the cross pipe 1a, it will flow mally into both. brake. cylinders'and thus per-etc the pistons and apply the brakes molly and powerfully, for in practice itbeen found that the tank pressure rises rapidly during): the operation of the engine to pounds per square inch and at which pressure the safety valve may be set. VVhen the tank pressure is M) pounds it has been found that the pull on the brake rod isapproximately 222 pounds, at pounds tank pressure, the pull is approximately 276 pounds and at pounds it is 3551 pounds, and as the crank arms 20 on the brake bands will further multiply thie pull six or eight times, it follows that the braking effect is very much greater than can possibly be eaertcd by a foot pedal or hand brake lever, (i this without any other exertion on the i t oi the operator than to more the handle the thrr'ae ivuy control valve. lvlorcovcr lcrcr couru tzons l8 and {9 also mast in n'iultiplying this power and bralcc cylin are connectcd to 'wheel which materially helps to prevent the skidding oi the ear, yet if the operator desires he can brake his car by the ordinary hand brake or foot pedals which are left intact on the car.

This improved brake operating mechanism also makes it possible to nstall a duplicate control valve in tlie'tonneau of the car so that those in the rear seat can likewise apply the brakes if desired. and the whole braking mechanism can be readily installed by the mereattachment of the brake cylinders to the chassis and the support of the tank by any suitable means from the chassis, and the attachment of the gauge and controlling valve in any simple and adequate manner. One of the advantages of this improved mechanism is that zero weather has no ellect on it as there is nothing about it to freeze. This brake mechanism will also brake a 5-ton truck as well as a car of smaller capacity.

Any slight residue of unbu-rnt mixture left in the storage tank may be readily drained by a pet cock on the under side of the tank.

For the purpose of cooling the burnt mixture as it is expelled during each explosion of the engine and 'lor :i1.resting the carbon contained in the n'iixturc. which would otherwise foul the check valve and obstruct the pipes or passages, I have provided a mixture cooling and carbon arresting means shown in detail in Fig. 3.

This comprises a tubular or hollow body member-25, open at each end, one end, as the lower end being provided with a flaring; mouth 26 for the reception and passage of atmospheric air, and this flaring mouth may be located so that. the fan of the engine will force cool air up through this member. The outer wall of this member 25 is provided with a spiral groove or passage 27 and this member is enclosed by a casing 29. thus forming: a closed helical passage of suitable length, and so forming an air-cooled chamber cooled by the passage ofthc air centrally through the member 25. The casing 28 is provided with suitable fins which also assist in cooling th burnt mixture as it passes through the helical passage to the reservoir. At one, as the upper and of the casing 254i; connected the pipe 7 which leads to one of the cylinders of the engine, and at another, as the lower end of the casing 28 is connected the other pipe 3 which leads to the reservoir. Thus it will be seen that the burnt mixture passes through pipe 7, to the helical passage and so around the hollow member 25 and out through. pipe 3 to the reservoir.

flaring its passage the carbon is extracted walls of the spiral passage. e

two members 25 and 28 are secured togetherby some suitable means which will permit the removal of the inner member 25 for cleaning purposes. In the present instance 5 this is shown as an internally threaded ring member 30 turned on to the inner member 25 and'adapted to be turned up tight :1 ainst a gasket 31 located at the juxtapose end of the casing 28 so that the casing is tightly forced against a flange 32 having a gasket 33 thcrebetween and the casing. This flange 32 of the inner member is held in gas tight engagement "with a similar flange 34 on the mouth portion of inner member; and these l5 flanges are suitably connected so that that part of the member 25 carrying the s iral passages may be readily detached for c eanmg purposes.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the burnt gases from one of the cylinders of the engine pass through the cooling and carbon arresting chamber or means to the reservoir tank and When it is desired to apply the brakes the operator merely shifts the control 95 valve permitting the stored gas to pass to the brake c linders' thereby operating the piston cylin ers and setting the brakes. By operating the control valve to connect it with the exhaust pipe the pressure is ext hausted in the piston cylinders and the Brakes are released.

The Whole mechanism is very simple in construction, effective in use, and is easily applied without detaching or disturbing the 35 ordinary pedal and hand operated brake mechanisms.

I It is tov be understood that by describing in detail herein any particular form, struc tui'e. or arrangement. it is not intended. to

limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims or the requirements of the prior art.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of con- 5 structing and using the same, although Without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may he made, or all of modes of its use. I claim:

1. In a device of the character desciibed;

0 a reservoir. a pipe for conveying thereto the semiburned gases from the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, a check valve in said pipe. carbon arresting means located intermediate of said check valve and the source of said brake actuating mechanism, a pipe for conveying the carbonafree gases from said reservo r to said brake actuating mechanism. and a fluid pressure controlling valve intermediate said res ervoir and said brake actuating mechanism. 2. in a device of the character described. a reservoir. a pipe for conveying thereto the s miburncd from the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, a check valve in said pipe, carbon arresting means means located located in said pipe int" chech valve and the aid pipe also of said check via 'e and the source of said gases" for cooling the latter, a mg mechanism. a pipe for or. carbon-free and cooled gas from said i: voir to said bralm actuating met-hm iis a'fiuid pressure controlling valve it U ate said reservoir and said brake actuating; mechanism.

3. 1n a device of the character descrih 'd reservoir, a pipe for conveying the: semiburncd gases from the com us her oft'an internal. combustion engi valve in said pipe carbon arrc. located in p' o check valve means locate the sonrcc o prising a unit ry stru ing mechanism, pipe "for conveying; carbon-tree and. cooled from voir to said brake actuating media a fluid iressure controlling val e n ate sai reservoir and said brake ac'tu mechanism. 7

i. in device of the che" reservoir pipe for con'vc semihurned from the com her of an. internal combi check valve in said pipe. means located in said pipe intermediate said check valve and toe the sau es oi? ises for cooling i ter. said means consisting of a ing' to convey the coolin through casing. a l anism. a pipe convoy from said reservoii i i mechanism. and a valve intermediate brake actuating n 5. in a devic reservoir. 9. pip conveying li semiburned ,Q'ase ironi the combustion c her of an. inte nal combustion ent in check valve, in said pipe. means ioc said pipe internie'iiate said check valve and the source oi said for cooling the latter. said means COll'lpilSll'lf! a spiral conduit for said gases. means for directing a cooling medium upon the inner and outer walls of said spiral conduit. a brake actuating me ht lt: anism. pipe for conveying the cool l from said reservoir to said brake ac mechanism. and a fluid pressure valve intermediate said reservoir and brake actuating mechanism.

6. In a brake operating mechanism automobiles. the combination with brake tuating mechanisms. of automatic are controni character eta with a part of said brake actua' mechzinisz'ne whereby the automatic brake niech ennui is: operated through the medium of the Hi, mid :neane for controlling said autoin in: Make Z'HQCi'HlUiSH) independently of the hint pedni and hand brake mechanisms.

T. In :1 hmke operating" mechanism for zinmn'mhii the (mmhinatlen with brake ac- I ie hunisnis including av emnieeting n brake arm, of a pair of piston a lever connected with each piston, a buke red connected with the lever and with the bra he arm and constructed to also eminent said first rod with the brake arm, :1 storage tank r-nnneeted with the engine and with the piston cylinders, and means "01- controlling the passage of fluid from the stin'ng'e tank to the cylinders.

Signed at Reading, Pa, this 15th day of December, 1922.

\ IRVIN D. LENGEL. 

